A pair of goalscoring strikers lead the way in the post-international break Loan Report, and whilst Patrick Bamford is a regular feature on these pages by now, it’s time to welcome Stipe Perica to the party. Elsewhere, Thorgan Hazard continues to do what he does best…

Headliners

Perica, for those unfamiliar with his story, is an 18 year-old Croatian striker signed from NK Zadar during the summer transfer window, before being loaned to NAC Breda in the Dutch Eredivisie. The decision was taken to send him there rather than to Vitesse, where six other young Blues are stationed, because of the Serbian and Bosnian representation on the NAC coaching staff, thus easing the transition and language barrier on him.

His international clearance was granted in early September, putting him in position to make his debut this weekend away to Roda. He was named as a substitute and was given ten minutes at the end of the game with Breda 3-1 up, and needed just four minutes to open his account with the fourth of an eventual five goals for the visitors.

Bamford, meanwhile, continues to go from strength to strength and scored his sixth goal of the season for MK Dons in their 3-1 win over Notts County on Saturday. Adding to his impressive early assist, he started and finished a move in stoppage time to net for the third consecutive game and for the fifth outing in his last six.

It was a case of another week, another goal (a penalty) and another assist for Hazard. They came in a rare losing cause as Zulte Waregem went down 5-2 to Genk, but the younger Hazard continues to rack up the numbers in a bid to prove himself very much ready to move on from the Jupiler League.

The assist was a delightful scooped through ball, whilst he converted his spot kick confidently into the top corner.

England

Romelu Lukaku was ineligible for Everton’s weekend clash with Chelsea because Premier League rules prohibit a loanee playing against his parent club. The less said about the game itself the better…

Victor Moses got off to a goalscoring start in his spell at Liverpool, netting during a 2-2 draw at Swansea.

Todd Kane’s good season continued with another whole-hearted and eye-catching performance for Blackburn Rovers in their 1-1 draw with local rivals Burnley. After a week away with the England Under-21s, Kane is developing into a dependable and aggressive presence on the right flank and is making all the right moves with regards moving forwards in his career.

In League One, Sam Walker conceded twice as Colchester drew 2-2 at Bradford City, but the bigger talking point from the game came in the closing stages as Daniel Pappoe was sent off just minutes into his debut for the U’s. The big Ghanaian defender received his marching orders for a tackle on Mark Yeates which came after the referee had blown for the ball going out for a throw. Pappoe clearly didn’t hear the whistle, however, and acted as if play was ongoing, and was duly dismissed for his mistake.

George Saville and Brentford won a seven goal thriller away to Tranmere with a stoppage time penalty, whilst Milan Lalkovic was a very late sub for Walsall in their win at Crewe after having a week away with Slovakia’s Under-21s; a rare international in the Saddlers’ ranks.

Netherlands

Perica turned out to be the only Chelsea loanee out of seven to actually play this weekend as Vitesse’s fixture against ADO Den Haag fell afoul of a waterlogged pitch. That means Cristian Cuevas, Christian Atsu and Sam Hutchinson are all still awaiting their debuts, although Hutchinson is still just under a month away from potential inclusion having not enjoyed a full pre-season.

Gael Kakuta is still sidelined through injury though, and whilst he may re-join the group on a full-time basis this week, a date for his return is yet to be determined.

Spain

Thibaut Courtois and Atlético Madrid continue to plough on in their quest to break into Spain’s top two and beat Almeria 4-2 on Saturday night. It was unusual for Courtois to concede twice in one game, but he could hardly have been held accountable for either of the visitors’ goals, as the following video attests to.

He makes his Champions League bow this week and if he performs anywhere close to the level he usually does, he will almost certainly establish himself as a consensus ‘top tier’ goalkeeper this season, as those who have watched him closely over the last two seasons know he already is.

Marko Marin played the last twenty minutes of Sevilla’s 3-2 defeat to Barcelona without having a major impact, whilst Oriol Romeu earned his first start in Valencia colours away to Real Betis. He completed 90 minutes, but Valencia lost the match 3-1.

Ulises Dávila made his Córdoba debut last weekend with the Spanish Second Division not stopping for internationals, and got just under half of a match in their 3-1 win over Numancia this week, having come on early in the second half as a replacement for right-back Janse. He was a part of an attacking effort which turned the game in their favour late on and should be pressing for a starting place in the coming weeks.

Jhon Pírez got an hour of Leganés’ 0-0 draw away to Puerta Bonita.

Italy

Wallace was an unused substitute for Inter in their 1-1 draw against Juventus on Saturday night.

Serbia

Matej Delac continued as FK Vojvodina’s first choice goalkeeper and picked up another win in a 2-1 defeat of Novi Pasar at Stadion Karadorde.